St. Landry democrat., 1887-07-28

while Kate stood on the platform, her
face wreathed in smiles and white
steam.
So the lovers met each day, and none
knew how she was made aware of his
approach with such absolute certainty.
Science applied to love, or rather love
applied to science, can move the world.
Two weeks passed, and then there
suddenly arrived at the station late one
| evening a special with the directors
car attached. The honorable directors
were hungry-they always are-;nd
would pause on their journey ana take
a cup of tea and a bit of supper. The
hOnOrables and their wives and chill
dren filled the station, and the place
put on quite 4 gala aspect. AS for
Kate, she demurely sat in her den,
book in hand, and over its unread
pages admired the gay party in the
waiting-room.
Suddenly, with furious rattle, her
electric bell sprang into noisy life. Ev-
cry spark of color left her face, and her
book fell with dusty slam to the floor.
What was it? What did it mean? Who
rang it? With atfrighted face she
burst from her office and brushed
through the astonished people and out
upon the snow-covered platform.
There stood the directors train on the
track of the on-coming train.
The conductor! Where is he? Oh,
sir! Start! Start! Get to the siding!
The express is coming
With a cry she snatched a lantern
from brakeman's hand, and in flash
was gone. They saw her light pitch
ing and dancing through the darkness,
and they were lost in wonder and
amazement. 1.-The girl is crazy! No
train is due now! There can be no
danger. She must be-
All! that horrible whistle Such a
wild shrek on a winters night! The
men sprang to the train, and the
women and children fled in frantic ter
ror in every direction.
run for your lives,' screamed the
conductor. "There's smash-up COM
ing"'
A short, sharp scream from the whis-
tie. The headlight cleaned on the
snow-covered track, and there was
mad rush of sliding wheels, and the
gigantic engine roared like demon.
The great ''59' slowly drew near and
stopped in the woods. A hundred heads
looked out, and stalwart figure leap
ed down fromthe engine and ran in the
bright of the headlight.
''Kate!'
"Oh! John, l."
She fell into his arms senseless and
white, and the lantern dropped from
nerveless hand.
They took her up tenderly and bore
her into the station house and laid her
on the sofa in the .ladies' ROOM
With hushed voices they gathered
round to offer aid and comfort. Who
was she? How did she save the train?
How did she know of it's approach?
''She is my daughter" said the old
station master. ''She tends the tele-
graph
The president of the railroad, in his
goldbowed spectacles, drew near. One
grand lady in silk and satin pillowed
Hates head on her breast. They all
gathered near to see if she revived.
She opened her eyes and gazed
about, dreamily, as if in search of some
thing.
''Do you wish any thing, my dear?'
said the president, taking her hand.
"Some water, if you please, sir; and
/ want want"
care you looking for any one,
miss 20
"Yes-no-it is no matter. Thank
you, ma am, feel better. I sprained
my foot on the sleepers when l ran
down the track. 1t is not severe, and
I'll sit up
They were greatly pleased to see her
recover, quiet buzz of conversation
filled the room. How did she know it?
How could she tell the special was
chasing us? Good Heavens! If she
had not known it, what an awful loss
of life there would have been. 1t was
very careless in the superintendent to
follow our train in such reckless man
ner.
"You feel better, my dear?" said the
president.
Eyes, sir. thank you, I'm sure. I'm
thankful knew john mean the en-
gineer-was coming
"You can not be more grateful than
we are to you for averting such dis
astrous collision"
I'm sure | am pleased, sir. never
thought the telegraph
She paused abruptly.